Garment



Feb. 2, 1943. D; L. MCDONALD GARMENT Filed Sept. 14, 1940 Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNETED TES PTENT OFFICE.

Claims.

This invention relates to a garment and has for an object the provision of an undershirt or a sport shirt which is particularly useful for mens or boy's wear.

Undershirts or sport shirts now in general use are manufactured from a knitted fabric which is produced on machines in tubular form. In accordance with the common practice, the shirt is formed by cutting the knitted tubular body portion into suitable lengths and then cutting and sewing the individual lengths to provide a garment having a tubular main body portion, an unobstructed bottom opening, and shoulder straps providing neck and arm openings. A knitted undershirt of this character is commonly worn by men and bodys as an undershirt or a sport shirt with underpants or shorts. The main body portion of the shirt is substantially uniform in diameter throughout its length, and consequently not form-fitting.

It is desirable in the construction of a normally close-fitting knitted garment of the character indicated above that it be made of such length that the lower portions extend down below the hip line of the wearer. Many wearers prefer that the lower peripheral edge of the shirt extend somewhat below the crotch. These garments, however, have a tendency to roll up and bunch at the waist because the garments are not form-fitted and also because the wearer is somewhat broader at or below the hip line than at the waistline. This rolling, launching, or creeping up of shirts of this type often causes discomfiture to the wearer.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an undershirt or sport shirt which wil1 not have a tendency to roll or creep up toward the waistline of the wearer.

A further object of this invention is to provide an undershirt or sport shirt, the lower peripheral edges of which will retain their position over the hips while being worn.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an undershirt or sport shirt which in extending below the hip line will not bind the crotch of the wearer.

Further and additional objects will appear from the following description, the accompanying drawing, and the appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an undershirt or sport shirt'of the desired size may be formed from a piece of tubular knitted fabric which provides the main body portion of the shirt. The tubular fabric may be cut and sewed at one end to provide neck and arm openings for the garment. The main body of the shirt may be of any desired length; however, in a preferred style, the length of the body portion of the shirt normally extends to or below th crotch of the wearer. In order to prevent the undershirt from rolling or bunching around the waist in accordance with this invention, a band of knitted fabric is secured around the lower peripheral edged the main body portion of the garment, said band being so out and sewed that the wales of the fabric extend at an angle to the wales of the fabric in the knitted main body portion. This band may be integral with the main body portion of the garment or it may b formed and cut separately and stitched to the lower peripheral edge thereof in any desired manner. Furthermore, if desired, the band may be split or discontinuous so as to provide a vertically extending slit in the completed garment.

An undershirt or sport shirt constructed as indicated above provides the wearer with more comfort than has been obtainable by the shirts now commonly sold on the market. The wales of a knitted tubular shirt normally extend longitudinally of the main body portion, thus providing a body portion having its direction of maximum stretch extending circumferentially thereof. It is this property to a large degree which causes these shirts of the prior art to creep or roll above the hips of the wearer because of the tendency of the main body portion to contract and work upwardly in the hip regions. In accordance with this invention, however, a band of substantial width has been provided around the lower peripheral edges of the main body portion, which band has its wales, and consequently its direction of maximum stretch, extending at an angle to the direction of maximum stretch of the fabric of the main body portion. The band, therefore, has a tendency to grip the wearer around the hips and to prevent the lowermost portions of the garment from creeping up over the hips andbunching at the waist. The slot or slots positioned in the lower peripheral edge of the garment also function to prevent the creeping up or bunching of th garment as has been disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 260,957, filed March 10, 1939.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein is shown in perspective a grament constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.

The garment comprises a main body portion 2 which may be integrally woven or knitted on suitable machines to provid a desired seamless fabric tube having its wales 4 extending in a direction generally longitudinally of the main body portion as indicated in the drawing. The body portion 2 may be cut at the top and sewed to provide shoulder straps 6 which outline the arm openings 8 and the neck opening It. The exposed cut edges of the main body portion and the straps 6 are covered by a suitable binding I2. As shown, the lower opening of the main body portion of the undershirt preferably remains entirely unobstructed. However, a band M of knitted fabric is stitched around the lower peripheral edge of the main body portion 2. band 14 also comprises a knitted fabric and is so cut and stitched to the main body portion 2 This of the shirt that the Wales It of the band l4 extend at an angle oblique to the wales 4 in the fabric of the main body portion 2. The band [4 is discontinuous at a front portion of the shirt, thus providing a slot l8 which extends upwardly from the lowermost peripheral edge of the garment. The free edges of the band M are bound as indicated in the drawing.

The undershirt constructed in accordance with the example described above is not formfitted. However, the direction of maximum stretchability (i. e. transverse to the direction of the wales) of the band portion extending over the hips is at an angle oblique to the direction of maximum stretch of the main body portion of the undergarment. The band having the angularly extending wales permits the bottom of the garment to stretch both vertically and horizontally. Consequently it will grip the hips of the wearer and prevent the garment from rolling or creeping up over the hips. If desired, the slot l3 may be eliminated. However, it has been found that the presence of this slot cooperates with the band I4 further to eliminate the undesirable rolling or creeping of the garment over the hips.

It will be recognized that modifications may be made in the garment that has been specifically illustrated in the drawing and described above. For example, it is not necessary that the undershirt be constructed from a piece of tubular integrally woven or knitted fabric. It may be constructed by knitting, weaving or sewing in any manner and may even be form-fitted if desired. The band l4 may be formed integral with the main body portion 2 of the garment or it may be stitched on in the manner shown. The slot l8 may extend only partially through the band 14 or it may extend upwardly into the main body portion 2 of the garment providing a slit longer than the width of the band I4. If desired, a plurality of slots may be provided around the lower peripheral edge of the shirt.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since may modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A garment comprising a tubular body portion of a flexible fabric open at the lower end having arm and neck openings adjacent the upper end and having a direction of maximum stretch extending substantially circumferentially non-rolling, close-fitting undershirt of the charthereof, and a flexible fabric band provided at the lower peripheral edge of said open end, the direction of maximum stretch of the fabric of said band being disposed at an angle oblique to the direction of maximum stretch of the fabric of said body portion.

2. The garment recited in claim 1 in which said band is cut transversely to provide a slit in the garment extending upwardly from the lower peripheral edge thereof.

3. A garment of the character described comprising a knitted tubular body portion wherein the wales thereof extend in a substantially longitudinal direction having a knitted band secured to the lower open peripheral edge thereof, the wales of said band being disposed at an oblique angle to the wales of said body portion.

4. The garment recited in claim 3 in which said band is cut transversely to provide a slit in the garment extending upwardly from the lower peripheral edge thereof.

5. The garment recited in claim 3 in which said band is discontinuous in a front portion of the garment to provide an open slit therein extending upwardly from the lower front peripheral edge thereof.

6. A garment comprising a knitted tubular body portion wherein the wales thereof extend in a substantially longitudinal direction, said body portion being open at the lower end and having arm and neck openings adjacent the upper end, and a knitted band secured around the lower peripheral edge of said open end, the wales of said band being disposed at an oblique angle to the wales of said body portion.

7. An undershirt comprising an integrally knitted tubular body member having wales extending substantially longitudinally thereof, shoulder straps for providing arm and neck openings at the upper end of said member, and a knitted band secured to and extending around the lower peripheral edge of said member, the wales of said band being disposed at an oblique angle to the wales of said body member.

8. A normally close-fitting knitted garment of the character described comprising an integrally knitted tubular body portion of a length sufiicient to substantially cover the hips of the wearer, said portion having wales extending substantially longitudinally thereof, shoulder straps positioned at the upper end of said body portion to provide arm and neck openings, and a knitted band secured to and extending around the lower peripheral edge of said body portion, the wales of said band being disposed at an oblique angle to the wales of said main body portion whereby the tendency of said body portion to bunch or roll above the hips is substantially eliminated.

9. A normally non-bunching, non-bindi g,

acter described comprising a knitted body portion of a length sufiicient to substantially cover the hips of the wearer, said portion having wales extending substantially longitudinally thereof, shoulder straps positioned at the upper ends of said body portion to provide arm and neck openings, and a knitted band stitched to and extending around the lower peripheral edge of said body portion, the wales of said band being disposed at an oblique angle to the wales of said main body portion and said band also being discontinuous in a front portion of the garment to provide an open slit therein extending upsaid body portion and forming arm and neck openings therewith, and a knitted band stitched to and extending around the lower peripheral edge of said body portion, the wales of said band being disposed at an oblique angle to the wales of said main body portion and said band also being discontinuous in a, front portion of the garment to provide an open slit therein extending upwardly from the lower peripheral edge thereof whereby the tendency of said undershirt to bunch or roll over the hips is substantially eliminated.

DOROTHY L. MCDONALD. 

